1. Ise-somo and Grodya are coming to Australia in February 2013

Muhindo Ise-somo (known as 'Ise' because it is 'easy',
Bishop of North Kivu,
The Democratic Republic of the Congo

                                                                                            

Timon Grodya (known as 'Tim' or just' Grodya')
The East African Director of CONGO DENTAL SUPPORT

Our two friends from the Congo are arriving on Sunday 10th February and being welcomed at Christ Church Springwood at 3pm.  

Ise-somo visited Australia in late 1998-1999 for 6 months during the civil war to publicise the plight of the Congolese people.  5 million people died in this conflict and the world by and large didn't even notice.  

He visited again in 2003 with Bishop Masimango for a month.  Both visits made a huge impact on those who heard him.  2 years ago he was made Bishop and is doing a great job in an extremely difficult situation in the poorest country in the world.  (Google 'Richest and Poorest nations')

Timon Grodya was my first dental student in 1988 in Butembo where Ise-somo was the Anglican pastor.  He went on to become the head dentist in the clinic we built (now called the 'Mama Wendy Dental Clinic' named after my wife.  In 2001 during the civil war he was unjustly imprisoned and beaten and when released, warned to flee the country.  As a refugee in Uganda, separated from his wife and kids for 18 months, he struggled to make a living until a Christian dentist, Dr James Magara employed him and under his registration Timon was able to begin work as a dentist again.

He visited Australia in 2006 for a month and likewise made a similar impact on people who met him.

So we are bringing them to Australia this time for a number of reasons - Ise-somo to renew friendship and contacts in Australia and to share what is going on in the church and the country as a whole.    Timon is here because a group of us have formed an incorporated association to fundraise for an organisation called 'CONGO DENTAL SUPPORT'.

We hope you will come and hear them if you are able and that you might be moved to support either one of them in the development projects that they are involved in.

When you visit Ise-somo in Butembo (if you every do) you will be treated like a member of the Royal Family or a rock star with hundreds of singing children and large numbers of Christians coming to welcome you.  This is partly because of their joyful Christian faith and partly  because the number of people visiting the Democratic Republic of the Congo is very few these days, most people thinking, like the Australian Government, that it is too dangerous to visit.  (It has the same danger level as Iraq and Afghanistan.)  And yet it is a wonderful place to visit as long as you do it as an invited guest of, in my case, the Anglican church who look after you like you wouldn't believe.

So they are arriving here on Sunday 10th February at Christ Church Anglican Church on the Great Western Highway at Springwood.  If you are in the area why not come and be part of a memorable welcome.  Like in Congo everyone is welcome.

Graham Toulmin, support dentist to Congo/Zaire on and off for 25 years.

Parking is available on the Great Western Highway on the Eastern direction and in the church carpark entered from the Great Western Highway (take care) or via Charles St behind.

More to come ....